This simple blog gives informal updates of some of our activities. For information about being in the outdoors with myself or other qualified IFMGA guides who work with me, or for industrial work at height feel free to contact me - email: info@teamascent.co.uk

Saturday, 28 March 2009

Wet weather here in Chamonix

A south west air stream has hit Chamonix and all the humid air has brought rain to the valley and it's just not pleasant out of doors, but still not as bad as Fortwilliam! We went to ski this morning but turned back, collected our climbing gear and headed for the local climbing wall. It was really OK there and we enjoyed a quiet hour until others began to arrive and crowd the place out. "Mont Blanc Escalade", is the climbing wall and is situated next to the Simond factory in Les Houches, a five minute drive from Chamonix and is a cool place to get muscles pumped and while away a wet day! Snow wise, the freezing level is around 1600 meters perhaps dropping to 800 meters overnight, so there will be plenty snow once this air stream passes through!

About Me

Sandy is a qualified International Mountain Guide and has guided world wide from gentle walks to technical climbs and 8000 meter summits, including Mount Everest where he was the fifth Scottish man to climb the mountain and also made the first ascent of Lhotse West summit. Sandy was the first Scot to climb Nanga Parbat in Pakistan and in 2012 he made the first ascent of the incredible Mazeno Ridge and has written a book ,"In Some Lost Place" about this expedition. Based in Newtonmore, Scotland he also spends a lot of time in Chamonix, France and many mountain places inbetween. Team Ascent is managed from our Newtonmore base. Sandy is also an IRATA assessor and Team Leader, providing assistance and consultancy services in difficult to reach and awkward "work at height" locations utilising techniques developed from his passion in climbing and mountaineering. You can get in touch with Sandy by email : info@teamascent.co.uk